What is felt? How is wool blend felt different from craft felt?

Spiritual -  "And the third day, there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the Mother of Jesus was there.  And Jesus also was invited...to the marriage" (Gos: Jn 2,1-11).  For the first time, we see the Blessed Virgin in her maternal function as Mediatrix of all graces.  The Cana miracle, Jesus'  first was worked precisely because of her intercession which was so powerful that it made Jesus anticipate His hour.  "My hour is not yet come," the Savior had answered His Mother, and Mary was neither dismayed by this apparent refusal nor did she insist on her request.  Secure in the knowledge of her Son and full of loving confidence in him, she says to the servants, "Whatsoever he shall say to you, do ye."  her humility, consideration for others, faith, and trustful abandonment win Jesus, and to show us the greatness of her power over His divine heart, he grants her wish; the miracle takes place.  Divine Intimacy

Sewing - SewHealing sells a variety of colors of  felt produced by a company called National NonWovens. WoolFelt comes in two blends, 20% wool/80% rayon ( 71 colors) or 35% wool/65% rayon (56 colors). Felt can be purchased in squares: 9" x12" or 12" x 18" and ranges from $.70 -  $1.80 a square.  Hair accessories, hand-made dolls, pin cushions, needle books, and baby booties are just a few projects that work so well using wool blend felt.

 







  
FYI,  Felt is a non-woven cloth."Non-woven fabrics are sheet or web structures bonded together by entangling fiber or filaments, mechanically, thermally or chemically.  They are not made by weaving or knitting and do not require converting the fibers to yarn."  Using wool and other blends of fibers, such as nylon or rayon, felt is made by the process of matting, or pressing fibers together often using heat and steam.  The exact origin of felting is not known.  In Turkey, the remains of felt have been found dating back at least to 6,5000 B.C.  A couple of legends from different cultures describing how the technique was developed include:
    a.  Saint Clement and Saint Christopher, fleeing from persecution, packed their sandals with wool to prevent blisters.  At the end of their journey, they noticed that the movement and sweat had turned the wool into felt socks.
    b.  Sheep, goats, camels and other animals herded together in Noah's Ark shed their fleece, trampling it
underfoot during the voyage.  Noah was surprised to find that the floor was carpeted in felt.

Why buy a wool blend rather than pure wool or acrylic (craft) felt?

1.  no "itch" factor and much softer than pure wool felt or acrylic felt
2.  less dense that pure wool felt, easier to work with
3.  wool blend holds up to wear and stress as pure wool does; will pill only if subjected to lots of stress
4.  nominal amount of elasticity and will not be pulled out of shape as easily as pure wool
5.  unlike 100% wool, rayon does not build up a static charge
6.  blends generally resist insect damage and retain the mildew resistant qualities of wool 
7.  generally, blends wash well and spots can be easily removed.
8.  acrylic felts are made of plastic and will not fade with normal usage
9.  acrylic felts will pill and fuzz A LOT, are stiffer, and have a "see-through" factor
10. seams are easily prone to tearing when using acrylic felt compared to stable seams of wool or wool blend

Hair Accessories Class - Wednesday, August 31, 6-8

Spiritual - "The two most powerful tools a woman has to influence a man are respect and admiration.  He will do most anything to get genuine appreciation, respect, admiration, and pride from you."
Rick Johnson, The Man Whisperer 

Sewing - These are so much fun to make!  If you have minimal cutting skills, minimal hand sewing skills,  and minimal hot gluing skills, you have it in the bag . The class is $15.00 + a kit fee of $6.00.  Materials used are chiffon, satin, and wool felt in a variety of colors. You will learn to make three different styles of hair clips which may be applied to bobby pins, alligator clips, pony tails holders, or headbands. You'll take home at least  three finished pieces and the skills to make tons of hair clips for your girls, nieces, and granddaughters!   Reserve you spot!

Preparing kits for Embroidery 101

Spiritual - "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us and persevere in running the race that lies before us while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the leader and perfecter of faith.  For the sake of the joy that lay before him he endured the cross, despising its shame, and has taken his seat at the right of the throne of God." Heb 12:1-2  Hebrews 1-13 gives me such comfort knowing that Jesus chose to know pain and suffering for the sake of each one of us.  This inspires me and gives me deeper faith and courage to endure the trials and crosses in my daily life, because glory awaits me, too.  This passage seems to state that we are to look at these trials as "disciplines" because a good father disciplines his children.  I look back on the many hardships and painful trials I suffered due to selfishness, self-centeredness, etc.  I didn't always want to own up to my part.  Thank God, through the eyes of a growing faith, I see them more clearly now. They have made me a better person. Now, when difficult situations occur, I am quicker to see them as loving discipline which helps me to avoid mistakes, make amends, and forgive others for their transgressions.  Thank you, Lord, for your loving mercy.

Sewing - Life has been very busy lately and I haven't been able to get to the machine as much as I would have liked.  But, today I am getting all the kits for the hand sewing embroidery class ready to go.  The wool felt feels so good and looks so pretty.  I'm now a distributor for wool blend felt in this area.  If anyone is interested in this luscious felt, let me know.  I'll be offering childrens' hand sewing classes starting this summer and using this felt for those classes.  The kids will eventually move up to machine sewing.   I'm also trying to complete an order for seven daygowns for a baby boy due soon.  The client wanted them white or blue and very simple.  As soon as I am finished, I'll take pictures.

All Designs Are Copyright Protected copyright 2011

Needle book for my pincushion!

Spiritual -  Lent.  This lent I have to change my attitude about confession.  I  have studied what the Sacrament of Reconciliation is and what that unbelievable sacrament has to offer.  So, why don't I go as often as I should?  That is the question I will tackle this lent.  In a sincere confession to a priest, acting in His Person (in perona Christi), I receive the grace to make a great effort to "sin no more" and the "promise" of hearing those words again, "I resolve you" when I commit the same sin again.  Pride, assumption,  lack of preparation, and habit are all areas I will think and pray over.  I have known the transforming power that comes with consistent prayer and the Holy Eucharist.  To grow more fully in Christ, Confession, on a regular basis is essential.  God, give me the grace to identify the root/cause in me that prevents me from experiencing You even more fully.

Sewing -  I have made this little needle book to go with the yellow wool heart pincushion.  Pincushions are great for pins, but not so great for needles.  Because needles have no head, they can get buried in the fiber.  You can find them later ("ouch") or you won't find them when you need them.  A needle book solves the problem and is great for taking to classes.  I put a little pouch on the inside front cover for needle threaders or even a small pair of embroidery scissors.  There are also little ridges on each page at intervals to place the needles. The needle book and pincushion are both made of wool blend felt and fiberfill.  Wool felt flowers, leaves, beads, and embroidery are added for embellishment.  These are completely hand stitched and is a perfect beginner sewing project!

Dolls, Dolls, Dolls

Sewing:

I am really addicted to wool felt, embroidered, and embellished dolls.  I was inspired by Mimi Kirschner who makes dolls, fish, circus characters, robots, and owls, among other wonderful artful things. I made reproductions of some of her dolls.  I used others as inspirations, and am beginning to branch out on my own.  They are really addicting.  Audrie and her friends have been benefactors.  Liam and I made the robot (anatomically correct) and a reproduction of one of Mimi's.  

Henry is the big green monster that Liam slept with for awhile and also helped me make.  We have made many creatures - dragons, squids, sharks, hydras (Jason & the Argonats), etc.  He learned many sewing skills from these projects and I learned to imagine.